Asthma rates up in Alberta, but not medication use: Study

While asthma rates are up in Alberta, the number of medications to treat the chronic condition dispensed at pharmacies has stayed the same.

Dr. Mohit Bhutani says this illustrates a worrying trend that has broader implications on the healthcare system. The professor at the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry recently published a research letter comparing Alberta’s rate of asthma to the number of relevant medications dispensed at pharmacies.

Between 2009 and 2020, the rate of asthma went up 50 per cent in Alberta. While the rate of medications dispensed stayed the same. For children, dispensation decreased.

“Which is a bit alarming.” Dr. Bhutani says the data shows the rate of medication use is lower than previously thought, despite recent efforts to increase awareness about the importance of proper medication use.

He says addressing medication use is “low-hanging fruit” in addressing the number of hospitalizations in Alberta due to asthma. Data from Alberta Health Services show an average of 21,000 hospitalizations between 2008 and 2014.

“We can certainly reduce that number of admissions and help the system, and more importantly help the patient and their quality of life, and not have to have these flares.”

Dr. Bhutani plans to further research exactly why Albertans with asthma are not filling their prescriptions but can point to a few reasons like the cost of both preventative and reliever medications, misunderstanding of diagnosis, or patients who have adapted to manage their symptoms without medications.

“They change their behaviour, and as a result of that they don’t live their best quality of life,” Dr. Bhutani noting a difference between those who have found non-pharmaceutical treatments to manage asthma and those who have cut out activities in an effort to avoid flare-ups.

The Canadian Thoracic Society recommends those with an asthma diagnosis should use maintenance medication on a daily basis if they experience more than two symptoms per week, including shortness of breath at rest or with exercise, wheezing, chest tightness, or coughing.